March 19, 2010 - 1
Spring is almost here and by last Sunday the daffodils had sprouted at the base of the willow tree in the oasis. The daffodils were probably up through the dirt already, but I couldn’t see them until after last weekend’s heavy rain. Most of the snow was gone by Monday and the few piles that did remain had disappeared completely by Tuesday.Meanwhile, sunrise occurred in the backyard this morning at 7:07AM. Sunset will arrive at 7:10 this evening. Having gained just 16 minutes this week, we’re up to 12 hours and 3 minutes of utterly fantastic sunlight each day. We’re just one short day away from spring, but the sounds of spring have already begun to fill the mornings quite nicely in this backyard. A lovely mix of birdsong may be heard each day, beginning shortly before sunrise.
Backyard Tip of the week:
See if you can get up early one day soon to enjoy your local birdsong. A pre-dawn journey out into nature is an often magical experience offering many different delights for your senses. Take a few moments to simply breathe as you experience the cool, crisp morning air. Allow your ears to enjoy the symphony that the backyard birds have created just for you. See if you can find a sense of wonder as the seasons change and your eyes fall upon the abundant life that is almost ready to burst forth. Bring a friend, a favorite beverage or other treat. You’re sure to love it!
Backyard sightings for last week:
Including northern cardinals, dark-eyed juncos, blue-jays, brown creepers, song sparrows, tree sparrows, white-throated sparrows. American robins, Carolina wrens and Carolina chickadees, catbirds, mockingbirds, house finches and goldfinches. Red-bellied and downy woodpeckers, yellow-bellied sapsuckers, northern flickers, white-breasted nuthatches, tufted titmice, mourning doves. Just a few red-winged blackbirds, crows, common grackles and starlings. Also chipmunks, skunks, an opossum, a ground hog, a couple of turkey vultures flying over and a red-tailed hawk!
Continued on next page...
March 19, 2010 - Part 2 - Cool Sightings
© 2010 BackyardTV.com